Watch John Oliver Dispel Coronavirus Misinformation in New Last Week Tonight Segment
Oliver advises that “gargling with bleach” won’t stop the spread of the virus
Image via HBO
On Sunday’s new Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, the host tries to quell misinformation about the coronavirus.
Referencing the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s statement, he starts from a sobering premise, saying, “It spreading here [in the United States] is not a question of if, but when.” As 91 cases have emerged in the U.S., according to CNN, a newsreel shows the bizarre questions some Americans have about COVID-19—like, “Can I get coronavirus from a package being delivered from China?” and whether “gargling with bleach or taking steroids” will protect from the disease—Oliver uses his platform to communicate effectively about the virus that has caused upwards of 3,000 deaths worldwide and created global panic.
To lighten the mood, the host adds, “There’s only one infectious disease that two thirds of the world should be getting right now, and that’s Adam Driver fever. Shatter my knees, you fuckable redwood!”
Oliver pairs his characteristic wry humor with seriousness, highlighting how concerning the coronavirus’ mortality rate, 2%, really is: “A 2% mortality rate, if true, would be about 20 times higher than the seasonal flu. And while the good news is around 80% of those who get this virus have mild symptoms, the bad news is, that means they are more likely to spread it without even realizing.” The disease has killed “three times as many people” as the SARS and MERS epidemics.